What are the best Ford cars ever built? The legendary Ford Mustang is just one of ten that we’ve selected.

Historically, the Blue Oval has built some of the greatest cars ever seen on U.S. roads. And while that truck has been a consistent drumbeat to the history of the company (not to mention a primary profit generator), it’s not a stretch to claim that the automaker forged its legacy through the cars it made and marketed. The Model T. The “Deuce Coupe.” The GT40, with its GT progeny. And, of course, the Mustang.

All those cars, and more, reflect the constant changes and chapters of American motoring tastes and innovation. Invariably, each stop along the way includes a Ford, either as the driving innovator others hope to catch (Model T, Mustang) or the driven competitor intent on besting the market leader (Escort, Taurus). That’s the benefit of competition: improved cars, more innovation, better designs, and a kick-ass story that takes 100 or more years to tell.

Now, Ford has announced that it will stop making sedans for the North American market. People aren’t buying ‘em, so Ford will stop selling ‘em. However, during its annual 2018 shareholders meeting, company executives defended their decision, saying that the automaker is “reinventing the American car,” not killing it.

How that plays out remains to be seen. Given the changes of today, we took a look back at the Fords of yesterday and came up with a list of ten cars that met the following simple criteria: they had to be awesome. That’s awesome as defined by being a best-seller, a trend-setting innovator, a design leader, or a performance superstar.

They’re listed here in chronological order.

1908 to 1927 Model T

The Ford Model T made the dream of personal mobility possible for middle-class America.

(FotoWare fotostation/Ford)

Hey! The original Tin Lizzie kind of started this whole crazy automotive thing.

While cars had been around for years prior to the debut of the Model T, it was this particular car that made the dream of mobility possible for the middle class. Thanks to Henry Ford and the magic of assembly line production, the price of a car went from around $800 to $250…well within range for millions of hard-working Americans.

It’s simple: Ford’s 1908 Model T brought the benefits of mobility to the masses, and that opened the door to automotive innovation in a very big way.

Sure, it was cheap. And rough. But it gave normal people four wheels powered by a gasoline engine, and even helped spawn the automotive aftermarket business. In fact, many an auto parts store started out as Model T parts replacement warehouses. Parts just had a bad habit of falling off at inopportune times.

After almost 20 years and 16.5 million copies sold around the globe, the Model T was discontinued, replaced by the Model A. Today, Hemmings has a 1908 Model T for sale at $50,000.

1932 Ford V8

Known as the “Deuce Coupe,” the 1932-1934 Ford V8 became the love child of hot-rodders everywhere.

(By IFCAR [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons)

What makes a car truly beloved is the way it captures the imagination of the public. Do people love it? Name it? Do we make it an extension of our personalities, show it off and shine it up for all world to see?

We do if we own a 1932 Ford V8.

That’s what the V8 engine did at a critical time for Ford, with competition growing in the personal transportation space. With power, style and romance, the 1932 Ford Model 18, also known as the Ford V8, continued the automaker’s evolution away from basic transportation.

As the first mass-market car to offer the power of a V8, the Model 18 made a whopping, teeth-chattering 65 horsepower. As important a milestone as this is, the reason this car is a “best Ford” is courtesy of its rebirth, beginning in the 1940s. As the “Deuce Coupe,” the 1932 Ford V8 became the love child of hot-rodders everywhere.

Skeptical? Go to a Sunday morning car show. Or download the Beach Boys’ “Little Deuce Coupe.” Then you’ll understand this particular Ford’s place in history.

Originally available for about $500, today Hemmings shows them for sale at approximately $35,000.

1955 to 1957 Ford Thunderbird

The 1955 Ford Thunderbird was built to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette.

(Ford)

Was a more beautiful, dreamy car ever produced? Maybe not. From American Graffiti to the Beach Boys, the original Thunderbird was a summer daydream on wheels, a reminder of better days – and the hope that everyday life could be both sexy and glamorous.

Introduced as a competitive answer to the Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was nonetheless different (it had roll up windows!), and as such, Ford avoided the “sports car” moniker, preferring to label the Thunderbird as a “personal car.” Maybe it’s just me, but it always seemed more like a personal statement than a raucous mover and shaker.

With age, the T-Bird got fat and heavy. Hey, it happens to the best of us. Over the ensuing 40 years, Thunderbirds both good and bad rolled off assembly lines, until Ford killed it after the 1997 model year.

Half a decade later, Ford tried to capture the magic of the original 2-seat T-Bird. A retro-styled version complete with the lights, the grille, the convertible top, and even a hardtop with portholes was offered from 2002 to 2005, but it missed the mark. As it turned out, nothing could best the original.

Back in the day, you’d shell out around $2,400 for a new 1955 Ford Thunderbird. Today? Plan to spend $40,000 for a ‘Bird in good shape.

1964.5 to 1969 Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang has been making car enthusiasts since 1964.

(Ford)

If Ford had never built a Mustang, there would be no Camaro. No ‘Cuda. No Pony Car Wars. Hell, without the Mustang, Burt Reynolds would never have driven that sexy black Screaming Chicken in “Smokey and the Bandit.”

Competition. You gotta love it.

Fact is, as far as pony cars go, the most notable, famous and first one has got to be the Mustang. What was once called a “mule” and “secretary’s car” ended up sparking a war that defined imaginations across generations and spurred a tidal wave of car enthusiasts.

Introduced as a 1964.5 model, the Mustang sold more than 2 million copies by 1969 – the year that many enthusiasts consider the end for the first generation of Mustangs.

So, what was so exciting about the Mustang? The looks, for starters. The long hood/short deck combination is always a winner. Even today, an original Mustang quickens the pulse just by looking at it. It performed, too, when the right option boxes were checked. Plus, the Mustang is more fun than you need – but not more than you can handle.

All things considered, the Mustang’s success really comes down to the way it so perfectly captured the optimism of the 1960s.

Originally priced at around $2,500, you can probably get a base 8-cylinder 1965 Mustang for around $25,000 today.

1965 to 1968 Ford Country Squire

From wood grain paneling to the wonders of the Magic Doorgate, the Country Squire had it all – and then some.

(Ford)

Back before SUVs roamed school parking lots and shopping malls, there was the wagon. The beautifully simple and accommodating station wagon and its three rows: front, back, and “way back.”

Indeed, for many years, wagons were everywhere. They did just about everything a family needed a car to do, from people hauling (8 to 10 adults and children, easy) to luggage (on the roof rack).

Just ask the Griswolds.

If you don’t know who (or what) the Griswolds are, check out the original “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and feast your eyes on the majesty of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, a vehicle that took on strong resemblance to the preeminent wagon of the time: The Ford Country Squire.

Built from 1950 to 1991 (!), the Country Squire was simply the Explorer of its time. We selected the fifth generation because it’s here that the wagon took on the classic shape it’s known for, introduced some needed safety features like seatbelts, and brought forth the Magic Doorgate. It may sound quaint, but the back gate of the Ford Country Squire was known as the Magic Doorgate, and it could open down or as a swing gate. So cool!

According to NADA Guides, in 1968 the Ford Country Squire cost $3,619 MSRP. Today? You can spend upwards of $30,000 or more for this classic and absolutely legit slice of early American suburban life.

1981 to 1990 Ford Escort

The 1980s-era Escort gave Ford a solid small-car competitor against Honda and Toyota.

(Michael Barera, from Wikimedia Commons)

I once drove a 1982 Ford Escort 2-door hatchback from New Jersey to California. And because my friend and I did it in 52 hours, I can positively attest to the practical, comfortable, and fuel-efficient nature of this car. It was a winner at what it was designed to do. In fact, Ford called the Escort its “world car,” and it became a consistent best-seller for the company thanks to exactly these traits.

Ultimately, though, the nameplate’s welcome wore out. After 2000, it was replaced by the Focus, which Ford just announced will depart from the U.S. market in all forms except for a small crossover starting in 2020. Nevertheless, collectively, the Escort and Focus have been among the best-selling small cars in America for almost 40 years. That’s significant.

According to CarGurus, the original sticker on a 1981 Ford Escort was about $5,500. Today, they are much less expensive.

1985-1989 Merkur XR4Ti

File the Merkur XR4Ti under “great idea, solid car, poor execution.”

(By User Dellegatt0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Consider it a case of Euro envy, perhaps, or a great idea that we Americans just weren’t ready for. Either way, the Merkur XR4Ti was arguably a great car in search of an American identity, yet sadly ahead of its time.

Or maybe it had poor damn timing.

Based on Ford’s European Sierra 3-door hatch model, the Merkur was essentially an Americanized euro hot hatch with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It was brought to the States by Automotive legend Bob Lutz. According to AutoWeek, Lutz felt the Sierra, with changes, could compete against compact luxury sedans.

It didn’t, by a lot. In fact, it never got off the ground, selling only around 42,000 copies. Maybe it could have with a more dedicated marketing approach. Or better brakes.

While the vehicle was considered a notable performance machine (especially as a race car), it suffered from issues with body roll and more. Even the name “Merkur” was a very forgettable decision.

So why do we list it as a “best” car?

Because the idea was brilliant. And with a little time and patience, it could have been an amazing hatch that gave German automakers are real and true competitor. Ultimately, though, the story of the Merkur XR4Ti is best told by Car & Driver: named 10 Best in 1985, then Most Embarrassing in 2009.

According to Hagerty’s, you can pick up a Merkur XR4Ti for about $2,100.

1986 to 1995 Ford Taurus

Ah, the glory days: The Ford Taurus was once the Best-Selling Car in America.

(Ford)

I never really liked the Taurus much. Yeah, I know it was once “America’s Best-Selling Car.” And it waged a mighty battle with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord for the hearts and minds of car buyers across its first two generations, from 1986 to 1995. But in retrospect, well, it’s boring.

Despite my lack of interest, I can certainly appreciate what the Taurus did for Ford. When it debuted for 1986, it was a landmark vehicle, futuristic and aerodynamic and unlike any other car to come before it. This bold long shot proved absolutely YUGE for Ford, and it arguably saved the company.

What a great run. What amazing glory days. Before Ford designers went into their interpretive “oval” obsession and effectively killed demand for the Taurus with a flop of a 1996 redesign, the Taurus was the king of sedans. Ford had moved 1.4 million copies by then, cementing the nameplate as one of the greatest Fords of all time.

According to Hagerty, if you want one today you can get a 1992 Taurus SHO (Super High Output) for $3,600. But then again, why? The Taurus will never find its way to classic car dreamland, even though it was the car that saved the brand.

2005 to 2006 Ford GT

Forget the Ferrari! Ford’s GT has the racing pedigree of the LeMans-winning GT40.

(Ford)

If you’re Ford and it’s time to celebrate 100 years of auto making…what do you do? You don’t just slap a “100” on the back of an Explorer. Or come out with a new shade of blue for the F-Series. No. You build an inspirational version of your most significant race car, the one that one-upped Enzo Ferrari at Le Mans.

That would be the 2005 GT, designed to be a retro-awesome version of the famed GT40.

Brought out to celebrate Ford’s 100-year birthday, it was built for the 2005 and 2006 model years. Recently, Ford resurrected it as the brand’s supercar, powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes a slightly unbelievable 647 horsepower. You might be able to order one for around $450,000.

But really, come on now. That’s just another super car. What you want is a 2005 model, because it harkens back to the famed GT40. That’s what makes it all so special. According to Hagerty’s you can buy a 2005 Ford GT, in good condition, for around $300,000.

As for me, I still remember my one and only ride in a 2005 Ford GT on a dusty and sun-baked track somewhere in the middle of southern California’s endless desert.

It’s not something one forgets.

2016 - 2018 Ford Focus RS

How in the world can an automaker stop selling a car like the Ford Focus RS in America? Terrible!

(Ford)

As recently as 2017, it was honored as our Best Performance Car because it’s a damn fine hot hatch powered by Ford’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine. That makes 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque – a lot of power for a 3,434-pound car.

It was a glorious time. Thin clouds, low temperatures, a quiet weekday afternoon, and miles upon miles of some of the most beautiful driver’s roads in the country helped me to fall hopelessly in love with the Ford Focus RS.

It is ungodly fast, launching from a stop like a Titleist off a driver. With each upshift in Sport mode, staccato salvos burst from the oversized exhaust outlets, filling the canyons with brief reports of combustion engine artillery fire.

What more can be written? It’s the perfect argument for why making and selling vehicles like the Ford Focus RS is good for everyone: from the car enthusiast to the business manager.